Apparatus for annealing glassware



K. E. PEILER APPARATUS FOR ANNEALING GLASSWARE June 15 1926;

- Filed Nov. 2 1925 Patented June 15, 1926.? H

- UNITED STATES PArsNroFFI-CE KARL E. PEILER, or wns'r nan'rronn, comvno'rrour, 'nssrenon' T0 imnrronn- EMPIRE compan or nnnrronn, oonnncrroo'r, A. oonrona'rron or DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR QANNEALING- GLASSW'ARE.

Application filed November vide' a very ri id and self-sup orting struc ture having su stantially gas-t1ght joints be tween the several sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lehr constructed of a plurality of integral cast metal sections, each section of which is provided with means for perm tting certain portions thereof to move relative to each other with changes in temperature.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical lon gitudinal sectional view of a tunnel lehr embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 1s a perspective view illustratingv more in detail the construction of the individual sections and the manner of securing them together; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. illustrating a modified form of tunnel section.

Referring to the drawings, a lehr is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 as comprlsing in general a metallic sectional tunnel 1, suported b a frame structure 2 and having a heating us 3 extending longitudinally therebeneath, through which heated gases from a firebox a are caused to flow by a draft-producing device'o, specifically a suction fan, disposed above the exit end of the tunnel. Dissipation of heat from the entrance end and theintermediate portions of the tunnel 1 is retarded by a surrounding casing of insulating material 6, such as powderedkieseh guhr orthe like. The coolm of the were is accelerated towards the exit end of the tunnel by omitting the insulation so as to expose the metallic walls of the tunnel to the cooling influence of the outer atmosphere.

lVare is transported through the tunnel 1 by an endless conveyor 7 of open woven wire structure, the ware-bearing strand. of which traverses the tunnel, being supported there-= in directly by the fiat bottom thereof, and also traversing a ware sorting table 8. The

2, 1925. Serial No. came.

idle strand of the conveyor returns to the en= trance end of the tunnel beneath the lehr, be-

"ing supported at intervals therebeneath by rollers 9. The conveyor 7 is driven by a driving mechanism 10 of any suitable design, but preferably consisting of a pair of rollerswhich frictionally grip the conveyor between them.

Accordingto the invention, the tunnel 1 abutting faces of the flanges 15 are prefer ably machined to provide very smooth surfaces, so that when the sections are secured tgether, the 1 oints therebetween will be subs antially gas-tight.

Each of the sections '11 is also rovided with a horizontal artition 16 which 1s formed integrally with t e side walls 13 and which divides the interior of the section into an upper passageway-17 for the ware and a lower passageway 18 for a temperature-controlling medium. This medium may either hot gases or cooling air, but for the purpose of illustration the hot gases from the fire box a are referred to in the resent case. The partition 16 forms the oor of the tunnel proper, and constitutes the sole support for the ware-bearing strand of the conveyor 7. The lower surface or the partition 16 is preferably formed with a plurality of transverse re-entoroing ribs 19 to minimize warping through changes in tempera tures.

In order to provide further'against distortion of the tunnel, when subjected to the heat of annealing, the bottom 12 and the top 14 of each section, at the hot portions of the lehr, are formedwith longitudinal slots 20 and 21 respectively which permit the por tions thus divided to move relative to each other, A strip 22 of sheet metal covers the slot 20 in the top and prevents the insulating material 6 from obtaining access to the interior of the tunnel.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 3, the top-of each section comprises a separate plate 23, the longitudinal edges of which are cut away, as indicated at 24, for engagement with the side walls 13. The cut-away portions 24 prevent lateral displacement of the top and are of sufficient width to permit the top to expand under the action of heat. The gaps between the tops of the adjacent sections are covered by transverse strips 25 to prevent the insulation from obtainingaccess to the tunnel.

From the foregoing it 'willbe apparent that a very rigid and self-supporting tunnel structure is provided, and one that may be assembled with a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention may be modified in construction and arran ement without departing from the scope of t 1e invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for annealing glassware in cluding a tunnel comprising a plurality of unitary metallic sections arranged in endto-end abutting relation with respect to each other and rigidly secured together.

2. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel consisting of a plural ity of integral cast iron sections arranged in end-to-end abutting relation with respect to each otherand rigidly secured together.

3. Apparatus for annealing glassware. comprising a tunnel consisting of a plurality of cast iron sections having'fianged ends and arranged in end-to-end abutting relation with respect to each other with their adjacent flanges rigidly bolted together.

4:. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel consisting of a plurality of cast iron sections having flanged ends and rigidly bolted together in end-to-end 1 abutting relation, the contiguous surfaces of said abutting sections being provided with a smooth finish to provide substantially gastight joints.

5. Apparatus for annealing glasswarecomprising a tunnel consisting of a plurality of unitary cast iron sections each having a flue portion formed integrally therewith,

the said sections being rigidly securedto gether in end-to-end abutting relation.

6. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel consisting of a plurality of unitary metallic sections each having a partition therein dividing the interior thereof into a passageway for ware and a passageway for a temperature-controlling medium, the said sections being adapted to be rigidly secured together in end-to-end abutting relation.

7. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel consisting of a pluralityofun'rtary metallic sections each having a partition therein dividing the interior thereof into a tunnel portion and a flue portion, the said sections being adapted to be rigidly secured together in end-to-end abutting relation, and a conveyor supported by said-partition for transporting artic of glassware through said tunnel.

8. Apparatus for annealing glassware, including a tunnel comprising a plurality of metallic sections arranged in end-to-end relation, each of said sections having a duct provided therein and adapted to cooperate with the ducts in the other sections to form a longitudinal flue for the passage of a temperature-controlling medium.

9. Apparatus forannealing glassware,

including a tunnel comprising a pluralityof cast metal sections, rigidly secured together in end-to-end relation, each of said sections having a duct cast integrally in a wall'thereof, and adapted to cooperate with the ducts in the other sections to form a flue extending longitudinally of the tunnel for the passage of a temperature-controlling medium.

10. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel having a metallic floor and side walls and top integral with said floor, said top being divided longitudinally to permit of independent movement of the portions so divided with. changes in temperature.

11. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel section having a metallic wall and a flue formed integrally with said walla 12. Apparatus for annealing glassware comprising a tunnel section having a metallic wall, a flue formed integrally with said wall, and means for preventing said wall from warping with changes in temperature.

13. Apparatus for annealing lassware comprising a tunnel having a metallic floor, and a flue formed integrally therewith, and having a slot in one of its walls to accommodate expansion and contraction with changes in temperature.

14. Apparatus for annealing glassware embodying a. tunnel comprising a plurality of cast iron sections rigidly secured together in end-to-end abutting relation, each of said sections having a floor, side walls formed integrally therewith, a top formed integrally with said walls, and a flue formed integrally with said floor.

15. Apparatus for annealing glassware embodying a tunnel comprising a plurality of cast'iron sections rigidly secured together in end-to-end abutting relation, each of said sections having a floor, side walls formed integrally therewith, a top formed integrally with said walls, and a flue formed integrally with said floor, said top and a wall of said fiue being divided longitudinally thereof to permit of relative movement of the portions thus divided with changes in temperature. i

16. Apparatus for annealing glassware embodying a tunnel comprising a plurality of integral cast iron sections of rectangular wea eoa cross section rigidly secured together in end-to-end abutting relation, each of said sections having a horizontal partition di- Viding the interior thereof into a pa$ageway for the ware and a passageway for a temperature-controlling medium, each of said passageways having a wall divided longitudinally thereof to accommodate relative movement of the portions thus divided w with changes in temperature. v v

for annealing glassware,

17. Apparatus including a tunnel comprising a plurality of self-supporting metallic sections arranged in end-to-end-relation, each of said sections having a passageway for Ware and a passageway for a temperature-controlling medium, said passageways being separated by a Wall common to both of said passageways. Signed at Hartford, Conn, this 31st day of October,- 1925.

KARL E. PEILER. 

